Working in an office isn’t all rush and worry. We have our good times, too.
For fun, there are various games we like to play. They’re a riot.
My favorite is Telephone Tag. It’s a simple game, but with the right people on the other end of the line, it can be a real barrel of laughs.
The object of Telephone Tag is to catch the person you’re trying to call in another office, when he’s actually at his desk. If he catches you at your desk, you lose. Along the way, there are lots of little twists and turns.
Let’s listen in on a recent game.
“Hello there, Richard?”
“No, this is Mark. Richard’s in a meeting. Who’s calling, please?”
“This is Jim Hagarty, from Stratford.”
“Tim Hagany?”
“No, that’s Jim Hagarty.”
“How do you spell that, Tim?”
“That’s H-A-G-A-R-T-Y.”
“What’s your number there, Tim?”
“It’s 271-2220, extension 134, but tell him not to call for the next half hour. I’ll be out.”
A half hour later, there’s a note on my desk: Richard called. Call him back as soon as you can.
“Hello there, Richard?”
“No, this is Bob. Richard’s on another line. Do you want to hold or call back?”
“I’ll hold, thanks.”
“Hello? Who’s this?”
“Richard? This is Jim Hagarty.”
“Sorry, I’m not Richard. This is Bruce. Richard’s on another line. Can I take a message?”
“What have you done with Bob?”
“Bob?”
“Could you tell Richard that Jim Hagarty from Stratford called back?”
“What’s your number there, Jim?”
“It’s okay. He has my number.”
“You’d better give it to me again, Jim.”
“Okay, okay. It’s 271-2220, extension 134.”
“And your name again?”
“Hagarty. H-A-G-A-R-T-Y. Jim. From the Stratford Beacon Herald.”
“Beacon what?”
“The Beacon Herald. The newspaper in Stratford.”
“Okay, Jim. I’ll pass this on.”
Lunch time, at last. A few minutes late getting back. Note on my desk: Richard returned your call. Call him back.
“Hello, Richard?”
“Sorry, it’s Mark. Richard just stepped away from his desk.”
“Well could you tell him to step back to his desk? I have to talk to him.”
“Hey, Tim. How’s it going?”
“Great, Mark. Could you please get Richard for me?”
“Hang on Tim.”
“Sorry Tim. Richard’s out of the office. Can I get him to call you?”
“Okay.”
“Hello Tim Hagarty?”
“Yes.”
“It’s Richard Seapea.”
“RICHARD! Great to hear your voice. I wanted to ask you about that story on farmers and the federal election …”
“Sorry Tim. You’ll have to talk to Mark about that.”
“Could you switch me over?”
“Love to Tim, but Mark just went home for the day.”
Final score: Richard 4; Mark 2; Tim, 0.
©1988 Jim Hagarty
